Real change isn't just about managing symptoms; it’s about identifying the stories and survival patterns that no longer serve you, and dissolving the illusions that keep you stuck.
Deanna Buckner
Registered Social Worker (RSW), (MSW)
Penticton | Summerland | Virtual
I’m glad your curiosity brought you here. Thanks for stopping by to see what I am all about! I’m Deanna, an RSW dedicated to helping people achieve a sense of emotional clarity and insight. I hope my perspective gives you a sense of what’s possible.
Have you spent so much time taking care of others that you've lost the definition of what happiness looks like for you?
When my own therapist asked me what made me happy, my answer was total silence. I had spent so much time responding to the needs of others that I hadn’t realized my own definition of happiness had completely evaporated. If you find yourself in that same silence, it’s not because you’re broken - it’s because you’ve been a professional caretaker for so long that your own identity has been pushed to the background. My goal is to help you turn that silence back into a conversation and rediscover what actually brings you fulfillment.
If you didn't have to be the 'strong one' for just one hour, what would you want to say?
Being the strong one is a lonely place to be. It means everyone comes to you with their problems, but you feel like you have nowhere to take yours. In our sessions, the 'strong one' role stays at the door. This is the one hour where you don’t have to have it all figured out, and you don’t have to protect my feelings. Whether you need to say, 'I'm exhausted,' 'I'm angry,' or 'I don't know who I am anymore,' I am here to hear it—without judgment and without you having to worry about the fallout.
Let’s work together to set your burdens down. We will focus on rediscovering the person you are beneath the roles you play for everyone else, moving toward a genuine sense of clarity and personal fulfillment.
I lean on both my studies and my own life journey to help you through:
Healing from heartbreak and loss: Grief, Divorce, and Infidelity
Navigating Life’s Weight: Stress, Depression, and Life Transitions
Recovering from Deep Pain: Trauma, PTSD, Sexual Abuse, Suicidal Ideation
Building Your Toolkit: Coping Skills and Relationship Issues
What its like to work with me
My intent is to create an atmosphere where you feel safe enough to be truly vulnerable with yourself and with me. I don’t expect you to trust me just because of my designation; I believe that kind of connection is earned, not given.
As a straight shooter, I value honesty and invite you to be just as direct with me. I’ll ask the hard questions and gently challenge your perspective, but I will never push you somewhere you aren’t ready to go. If I’m off the mark, tell me. If a question feels like too much, say so. To me, the most critical part of the therapeutic experience is if you ever feel I’m not the right fit for you, please speak up - it won’t hurt my feelings. In fact, seeing you advocate for what you need would be a win in my book, and I’ll gladly help you find the person who is the right match for your journey.
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I believe that many of the things we struggle with today - anxiety, feeling not enough, or repeating the same relationship patterns - aren't flaws in who we are. They are actually survival habits we picked up a long time ago.
I help you look at your family story not just to dwell on the past, but to understand the why behind how you feel today. Often, our current fears are just echoes of old hurts that haven't had a chance to heal yet.
In our sessions, we don’t just work on fixing you, because I don’t believe you are broken. Instead, we work on:
Uncovering Your Story: We’ll look at the hidden beliefs you might have grown up with. For example, like the idea that you have to be perfect to be loved or that it’s not safe to be yourself.
Healing Old Wounds: We give those younger, unseen parts of you the acknowledgment and care they missed out on, which helps your body and mind finally relax.
Finding Real Freedom: When we stop fighting against our reality and stop trying to control every outcome, we find a sense of peace that doesn't depend on everything being perfect.
My goal is to help you see that the story you were told about yourself isn't the whole truth. Together, we’ll clear away the mental clutter and old patterns so you can step into a life that feels lighter, truer, and more connected.
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CTP-PTSD | DBT | Grief Informed | Gottman Method | Occupational Awareness | Socratic Dialogue
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I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Northern British Columbia, and I am a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW).
Applied Psychological First Aid, JIBC
Vicarious Traumatization, JIBC
Post-Critical Incident Stress Reactions, JIBC
Diversity and Trauma, JIBC
Introduction to Critical Incident Stress Management, JIBC
Supporting Families Going Through the MAiD Process, Dr. Stefanie Green, BCACC
Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Dr. Suzanne Iasenza, BCACC
Critical Incident Group Debriefing, Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute
Why the Questions We Ask Matter, Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute
Understanding Firefighter Culture and Trauma, First Responder Health
Understanding Emergency Worker Trauma, First Responder Health
Sleep Management Series, First Responder Health
Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1, Gottman Institute
Socratic Dialogue in the Treatment of PTSD, Professional Education Systems Institution
Grief Treatment, Professional Education Systems Institution
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Professional Education Systems Institution
Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, Professional Education Systems Institution
A little more about me…
I am deeply invested in the richness of my personal world, which includes my two grown children and their partners, as well as my significant other and his two daughters. Navigating the beautiful complexity of a blended family keeps my curiosity about human relationships very much alive outside of the office.
WHY A COUNSELLOR
I have always felt like a natural student of the human experience. I am deeply drawn to counselling because I have an innate curiosity about the “why” behind our actions and the stories that shape us. For me, it is not about diagnosing or fixing someone; it is about genuinely wanting to understand their world and explore their unique perspective. I find there is something incredibly meaningful in simply being curious enough to witness someone as they navigate their own life.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Think of me more as a guide than a GPS. If I simply tell you what to do, I am giving you my solutions based on my life experiences, but you are the true expert on yours.
My role is to help you build your own internal compass. By exploring your options together, you develop the confidence and skills to make decisions that actually fit your values. It’s about empowering you to find your own way forward, so that when our work is done, you feel fully equipped to handle whatever comes next.
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To put it simply, emotions are the body’s automatic, subconscious, biological reactions to a situation that are raw and immediate. Feelings are the conscious mind’s interpretation of those physical signs; they are the labels we give to those sensations.
For example, imagine someone cuts you off in traffic. The emotion is the physical jolt – your muscles clench, your face gets hot, and your heart starts pounding. This is your body’s automatic stress response. The feeling is the mental label you give that heat, like ‘outrage’ or ‘frustration’. It’s the story your brain tells, like ‘That was so unfair!’ to make sense of the physical tension.
Learning to tell your emotions and feelings apart is a real gamechanger for building self-awareness. It gives you the space to actually respond to life’s challenges instead of just reacting on impulse.
Rates
Individual - $155
Couples - $230
Availability
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday – Afternoons and Evenings in Penticton (In person or Virtual)
Tuesday – Afternoon and Evenings in Summerland (In person or Virtual)